Shoplifters Of The World Unite (single)

Cover art

THE SMITHS Single
Name	Shoplifters Of The World Unite
Release	January 1987
Length	2:56 2:58 (Instrumental outtake) 3:03 (Instrumental demo)
Recorded	November 1986
Writer/composer	Morrissey/Marr
Producer	Johnny Marr
Art work	Cover star: Elvis Presley first press picture, taken by James R. Reid in 1955. (Elvis' hairdresser).
Vinyl Etching	ALF RAMSEY'S REVENGE
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl
Chart position	UK #12
Single chronology
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out ← Shoplifters Of The World Unite → Sheila Take A Bow

Information

• An instrumental demo of this song appears on The Smiths – Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals bootleg LP.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 195]

1. Shoplifters Of The World Unite – 2:56 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. Half A Person – 3:35 (Morrissey/Marr)

12" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 195]

1. Shoplifters Of The World Unite – 2:56 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. London – 2:06 (Morrissey/Marr)
3. Half A Person – 3:35 (Morrissey/Marr)

Lyrics

Learn to love me Assemble the ways Now, today, tomorrow and always My only weakness is a list of crime My only weakness is well, never mind, never mind

Oh, shoplifters of the world Unite and take over Shoplifters of the world Hand it over Hand it over Hand it over

Learn to love me And assemble the ways Now, today, tomorrow, and always My only weakness is a listed crime But last night the plans of a future war Was all I saw on Channel Four

Shoplifters of the world Unite and take over Shoplifters of the world Hand it over Hand it over Hand it over

A heartless hand on my shoulder A push and it's over Alabaster crashes down (Six months is a long time) Tried living in the real world Instead of a shell But before I began I was bored before I even began

Shoplifters of the world Unite and take over Shoplifters of the world Unite and take over Shoplifters of the world Unite and take over Shoplifters of the world Take over

Music Video

• Directed by Tamra Davis

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 1

The Smiths live history:

• London, England 1986-12-12 (The Smiths concert)

Play count (Morrissey concert): 220

Morrissey live history:

• Akron, Ohio 2000-02-14 (Morrissey concert)
• Albany, New York 2012-10-18 (Morrissey concert)
• Albuquerque, New Mexico 1997-10-24 (Morrissey concert)
• Ann Arbor, Michigan 1997-09-24 (Morrissey concert)
• Athens, Greece 2012-07-16 (Morrissey concert)
• Atlanta, Georgia 1997-11-15 (Morrissey concert)
• Atlanta, Georgia 2004-10-22 (Morrissey concert)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey 2013-01-12 (Morrissey concert)
• Auckland, New Zealand 2012-12-15 (Morrissey concert)
• Baltimore, Maryland 2007-10-31 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• Ask (single)
• Best...I
• Complete
• Live At Earls Court
• Louder Than Bombs
• Sheila Take A Bow (single)
• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (single)
• Singles
• The Complete Picture
• The Sound Of The Smiths
• The Very Best Of The Smiths
• The World Won't Listen
• Who Put The 'M' In Manchester?

Discogs Information

Credits

• Art Direction [Art Co-ordination] - Jo Slee
• Bass [The Bass Guitar] - Andy Rourke
• Drums [The Drums] - Mike Joyce
• Guitar [Guitars] - Johnny Marr
• Layout - Caryn Gough
• Lyrics By - Morrissey
• Mastered By - Tim Young
• Music By - Johnny Marr
• Other [Cover Star] - Elvis Presley
• Photography By [©] - James R. Reid
• Sleeve - Morrissey
• Voice, Words By - Morrissey

Images

• Shoplifters Of The World Unite - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/21113
• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (7" Single 45 RPM Solid Centre) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/4400294-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Custom pink inner sleeve with cat. no (RTT 195) written in white at top right-hand corner.

Cover star Elvis Presley © James R. Reid This record is dedicated to Ruth Polsky

© 1986 Warner Bros. Music Ltd. Made in England

Early UK copies were sold in a plastic carrier bag with "Shoplifter" printed on one side, and the cover art printed on the other side.

A [url=http://www.discogs.com/release/2335438]mispress of this 12"[/url] also exists with "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" on the A-side.

Images

• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 45 RPM Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/385496-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

All songs recorded at Mayfair, London. Music published by Warner Brothers. Distributed by The Cartel. Pressed and printed in West Germany. Dedicated to Ruth Polsky

Images

• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" Green/White Marbled) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2486378-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

All songs recorded at Mayfair, London. Music published by Warner Brothers. Distributed by The Cartel. Pressed and printed in West Germany. Dedicated to Ruth Polsky

Images

• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 45 RPM Pink/White Marbled) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/1843343-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

℗ 1987 © 1987 cover star Elvis Presley © James R. Reid this record is dedicated to Ruth Polsky

Pressed on clear blue vinyl in thin, top-opening paper sleeves. Sleeve is without barcode (in difference to the black vinyl Line Records release). Printings on sleeve back are silver (instead of the usual grey).

On both labels: Morrissey is everywhere misspelled as "Morrisey". On A-side label: Morrissey, Johnny Marr and Stephen Street incorrectly credited together as Producers (correct: only Johnny Marr – as stated on the sleeve).

Images

• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (7" 45 RPM Single Blue Transparent) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/3262332-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

From The Smiths' album Louder Than Bombs on Sire Records (1-25569) Promotional Copy. Not For Sale.

This single was released as a promo for the US version of Louder Than Bombs. One of the only Smiths releases to have a picture of the band on the cover. The back of the sleeve is blank.

Images

• Shoplifters Of The World Unite (12" 33 ⅓ RPM Promo) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2108956-The-Smiths-Shoplifters-Of-The-World-Unite

Wikipedia Information

"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. Released in January 1987, it reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart. As with most of the Smiths' singles, it was not included on a studio album. It is featured on the compilation albums The World Won't Listen, Louder Than Bombs, Singles and The Sound of The Smiths. Another newly completed song, "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", was originally intended to be the A-side of this single. It made it to the white label test pressing stage and approximately 900 stock copies of the single were manufactured. This aborted single mix can be heard on The World Won't Listen, while a remixed version is included in Louder Than Bombs.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoplifters_of_the_World_Unite